They shook hands and Robert sat down opposite her, with a self-assured smile.
I hope this is not going to take too long?
, he said, and pointed at his expensive-looking watch.
The initial conversation is about 30mins
, Athena said, and
sometimes this is enough, sometimes we recommend further sessions and programmes -- depending on the case.
His case was pretty standard. Five times over the speeding limit, once caught with alcohol in the blood - not a lot, but enough to have his driving licence temporarily suspended and having to come here, to talk with a registered psychologist.
Why were you going so fast?
Athena asked.
It's not me, it's the car,
he said
. It's just a fast car. I always wanted to have a Porsche, and now that I sold the company I got myself one. You don't realize how fast you are going, when you are driving a Porsche. If you don't believe me... how about I take you for a spin after this?
Athena forced a smile. She was aware that she was a very attractive woman, but she hated it, when they tried to flirt with her during a session.
The rules apply to everyone
, she said
, also to people with fast cars.
Sure,
he said,
but everybody bends the rules sometimes. Rules are for normal people. Of course there are laws, but I believe in individual judgement. I built my company from scratch. If I had followed the rules, I'd still be computer geek working in the back office. You seem like a very intelligent woman. I'm sure you have broken the rules before. It's just something you do, when you can.
I don't think I will be able to sign you off today,
Athena said
. My recommendation is that you complete the 10 week road safety course first.
Are you serious?
Robert laughed nervously.
I'm afraid so
, Athena said coldly. She had no patience for people like him.
Look, can we start over?,
he pleaded.
I think you got me all wrong...
I'm not a bad guy! The two off us, we got off to a bad start, that's all! I apologize. I'm a good driver, and I need to drive. I don't have the time to do this road safety course...
Are you aware of the concept of inferiority complex Mr Pout?
she asked.
Sure,
he said...
are you saying...
People like you,
Athena said,
suffer from the opposite. You have a confidence complex. You clearly think you are somehow superior, and that the law doesn't apply to you. And so I think you should take that 10 week programme, to learn a bit of humility.
Robert gulped. This was not the outcome he expected when he showed up here today. Getting his licence back was meant to be just a formality.
I'll give you a £1,000 if you let me pass
, he said.
You must be joking
! Athena shook her head.
Who do you think I am?
I get it,
Robert said, y
ou don't like me. But having to do this course would really mess my plans up. I've looked up your profile before I came here. I know that you do stuff around hypnotherapy to help people stop smoking. Can't you do the same here? Give me some hypnotherapy so I don't go over the speeding limit? And I'll pay you £1,000.
You want me to hypnotize you, so you drive less fast? That is not how it works... that is ridiculous... And it wouldn't work, because it's not the driving fast that is the problem, it's your confidence complex!
Then help me with that. It's worth a try. If it doesn't work, than fine. I'll still pay you the money. But I want you to understand that I'm willing to do whatever is possible to pass this examination today, and get my driving licence back.
He looked her straight into the eyes, pleadingly. He was an attractive man, in his late thirties. Athena was thinking...
maybe she should let him off the hook. Maybe she had got him wrong...
She was just about to give him another chance, when
she noticed that his eyes glimpsed for a second at her breasts.
Fuck it,
she thought
, let's teach him a lesson!
Okay,
she said.
If that's what you want, then I'll give it go.
--
He had drunk the mild sedative that she had given him, and was sitting on the couch. He didn't feel anything. He had tried hypnosis before, and it didn't work on him. But he wasn't going to tell her that... he would just play along, pretending, so he would get his licence back WITHOUT having to do this stupid course. She came back from the other room and sat down on the chair next to the couch he was lying on. She was a sexy girl, shame she wasn't into him... He started to feel a bit drowsy now.
I'm ready to start,
he said.
Great,
Athena said, with a wry smile.
But before we start, could I ask you to take your jacket, shoes and your watch off please?
Why?
Robert wanted to know.
Sometimes people make sudden moves under hypnosis,
Athena said
.
Robert took off his shoes, the jacket and placed his watch on the table.
Concentrate on my voice
, he heard her say
. I will count down from ten Robert and then your mind will fall into a nice and comforting sleep. In this sleep you will still be able to hear me and to answer me. You will feel very content and relaxed... I will start counting down now... ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five, four, three, two, one...
His eyes went shut, he was under! Athena smiled.
He was an easy subject...
g
ood!
Good. Now Robert, let's start your therapy.
I want to begin by you telling me all the things that come to your mind that give you confidence and that people envy you for...
Robert answered slowly:
My money, my Porsche my house, my Rolex, my brains, my cock...
'Thank you',
Athena said
, 'let me stop you right there, that's enough...'
She looked at the list he had given her... money, Porsche, house, Rolex, cock...
how could anyone be SO shallow?
Tell me about your Rolex,
she said and picked up his watch from the table to have a closer look at it.
I bought it a few years ago as a present to myself,
Robert said.
Athena weighed the watch in her hand. It was a beautiful timepiece. She slid it onto her own wrist and shook it into position.
I have to say this really is a very beautiful watch. I can see how it gives you confidence wearing it. It must have been very expensive?
Yes, it was very expensive.
Athena smiled, the next part was going to be fun.
Robert,
she said
, do you trust me?
I trust you,
he said.
Good,
she said
. There is something I have to tell you. I think there is something wrong with your memory. Until now you have thought that you own a very beautiful large gold Rolex, similar to the one I am wearing at the moment, an impressive watch people admire. But this is not true. You never had such a watch. You always wanted one, but you never had one, do you understand? Say yes, if you understand.
Yes.
Very good Robert. So what we need to do is to delete this false memory you have. From now on, you have no memory of ever owning such a beautiful watch, you never experienced the sensation of wearing such a perfect watch, but you have always felt inferior in the presence of people wearing expensive watches, and it really affects your confidence not having one. Say yes, if you understand.
Yes.
Good. Unfortunately Robert, there is nothing impressive about you, and that's why you don't have an impressive watch. From now on, you will start to feel inferior, second rate, and insignificant to any man, and especially to any woman who is wearing a watch. Wearing a watch is a club you don't belong to. You don't deserve to wear a watch. Say: I don't deserve to wear a watch.
I don't deserve to wear a watch.
Good, very good. Now Robert, when you wake up, you will see me wearing a very big, beautiful man's Rolex watch. I'm wearing this big, beautiful man's Rolex watch because I deserve it. You will take this as a sign of me being very, very superior to you, and that you can trust me. In fact, the person you trust the most in your life is me, Athena, your psychologist, and the wearer of a big, beautiful Rolex. In fact you trust me so much, that you trust me more than yourself. Whenever I ask you to look at my Rolex, I want you to feel like you can completely trust me. And when you hear me say the words
'
YOU CAN TRUST ATHENA' I want you to return to this drowsy state you are currently in, and do exactly what I tell you to do, because you trust me. Who do you trust?
I trust you,
he said slowly.
Excellent Robert, always remember that you do trust me deeply. I'm now going to count to three now, and when I reach three, you will slowly wake up and not remember that we had this conversation. The only thing that you will remember is that you must trust me.
--
Robert woke up. He must have fallen asleep for a second. He saw Athena sitting on the chair next to the couch.
Robert, shall we start?
she asked. She looked at the Rolex on her wrist
, It's almost two o c'lock.
Robert stared at her watch. He hadn't noticed that she was wearing such an expensive watch before. He touched his own wrist, but there was no watch there. He felt a bit weird, intimidated somehow.
Do you like my watch?
Athena said
, I noticed you looking at it. It's a Rolex. Very expensive.
It fits you very well
, he said somewhat meek.
Thank you, I think so too!
I've noticed that you don't wear a watch. Would you like to try on my Rolex? It's actually a man's watch.
He looked at the floor, clearly puzzled.
No thank you
, he said after a short pause,